BT adding 0870/0845 numbers to its call packages - discussion

Ypaymore

baldude wrote: »

Good point KCK9, please let me know when you know the answer.Im in da same boat.

He duplicated his post and the BT rep answered his question,s (post 37) here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1563533&page=2

BT_company_representative

Hi Everyone, Please refer to this link for the terms & conditions as to when calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers are not chargeable. There are some exclusions and this will explain them.
http://!!!!!!!.com/nda2er

Cheers
Donna
BT Support

Heinz

BT_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Everyone, Please refer to this link for the terms & conditions as to when calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers are not chargeable. There are some exclusions and this will explain them.
http://!!!!!!!.com/nda2er

Cheers
Donna
BT Support

Want to try that link again?

Victor_Delta

Heinz wrote: »

Want to try that link again?

Using a bit of trial and error it appears to be t i n y u r l - but when you enter this word on the MSE website it curiously changes automatically to all those exclamation marks...!!!!!!! (hence why I have spaced out the letters above). Presumably there is some reason for this?

Anyway, make the substitution in the link and it works fine - but here is the full link anyway (no wonder Donna used a link abbreviator!) http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_sid=&p_faqid=12732&cat_lvl1=345&cat_lvl2=350&p_cv=2.350&p_cats=345,350

V

millgate

Hello,

I'm new here ...

Please can I have a clear, definitive, even BT, answer to why I cannot call, FREE, my (non BT) ISP on their 0845 number - using my Unlimited 24/7 contract with BT ?

I cannot imagine how such an apparent 'constraint on trade' can be perpetrated by BT on their competitors. Am I just being simplistic or has OFtel missed something?

Thanks.

Heinz

See the section headed:

Calls to identified Internet Service Providers and
Indirect Access Services using 0845 – All Calling Plans

on page 45 of http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer/consumerProducts/pdf/SpecialisedNos.pdf

In other words, all known ISP 0845 numbers are always chargeable @ 2.042p/min. daytime (7am to 7pm) and 0.51p/min evenings (7pm to 7am) regardless of the calling plan you're on.

System

When you call any 0845 number, BT has to pay the 'terminating operator' some defined rate per minute. I can't remember how much, say 0.5p per minute. The 'terminating operator' may pass some of that to the owner of the 0845 number, such as your ISP provider or bank. BT took a commercial decision that they could, on average, stand that, within a pool of customers paying a flat fee per month for up to x calls, and up to y minutes, of calls to 0845 (and 0870) numbers. But they also took a commercial decision to exclude calls to ISPs, because most users of a heritage dial-up 0845 ISP would tend to use their maximum minutes every month, and BT would make a loss.
Ofcom (which long ago replaced Oftel) had no grounds for objecting to any of that. It does (I think) regulate the maximum markup that BT can put on 0845 calls (when they are individually charged).